by Rasheryl McCreary, PCC

The holiday season is upon us! As wonderful and energizing as this time of year can be, it can also be incredibly stressful. There are business social obligations, deadlines at work, as well as dealing with holiday travel and family drama. This time of year can make or break your personal brand, depending on how you deal with the stress of the holiday season.

Here are four quick tips to help you holiday proof your personal brand:

“Overspending is as certain a part of the holiday season as overeating. But pushing away from both the table and the cash register at least a little bit sooner can make the post-holiday hangover hurt a little bit less.”

– Jeffrey Kluger

The old saying is “moderation in all things”. This may be difficult to do with a hectic social calendar, but it is absolutely essential to practice moderation in everything.

Don't overeat, overdrink, over exercise, overwork, or overextend yourself if at all possible.

We've all heard of or known of a colleague who overindulged in alcohol at a business social event and then behaved in a way that tanked his or her career.

Women especially should pay careful attention to alcohol consumption. According to an article on HealthStatus, men and women process alcohol very differently, even if they are both the same height and weight.

The studies in this article point out that “women have a smaller body size, more body fat, lower amounts of the enzyme dehydrogenase which breaks down alcohol and a regular occurrence of hormonal changes. As a result, women respond faster and with more intensity after a round of drinks.”

The bottom line: Be conservative in alcohol consumption. Know your limits and stay well within them.

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”  

- Eddie Cantor

During the holiday season, you're dealing with increased business commitments as well as demands on your time from family and friends. The biggest gift you can give yourself (and others) is to slow down, breathe, and be present.

Practice mentally getting out of the whirlwind of activity and back into your body. Feel your feet on the ground. Feel the chair you're sitting in. See the person or people in front of you. Hear what is being said to you.

Being present is fundamental to having great presence, growing your brand, and attracting others. Being distracted, visibly stressed, or filled with anxiety is a surefire way to keep others from interacting with you.

Try this practice:
Take a moment wherever you are and just breathe. Take 60 seconds, 90 seconds, or even two minutes. Just breathe deeply into your belly and bring yourself back into the state of being fully present. You'll notice that as you begin to breathe deeply, all of the brain chatter begins to dissipate.

“Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

- Oscar Wilde

Holiday parties require us to mingle, and I have so many clients who say to me, “I hate small talk. I hate going into business social situations and having to make small talk.”

I totally get that small talk is tricky. Done well, it can lead to great connections that grow into solid relationships in your network. Done poorly, it can derail your brand and have others running for the door when they see you coming.

The best way to master small talk is by being curious about other people.
 

When starting a conversation with someone you don't know well, lead with authentic curiosity instead of tooting your own horn.

Ask open-ended questions such as:
“What’s your take on ???”
“What was your biggest win this year?
“What are you glad to leave behind in 2018?”
“What do you think is the biggest challenge we’ll face in 2019?”

Asking questions, being present, listening, and showing genuine interest in another person is a great way to spark a dialogue that leads to a deeper, more engaging conversation. Engaging conversations are great brand builders that can build relationships and extend your network.
 

“Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”

- Stephen Keague

If you want to shine during this holiday season, you must prepare BEFORE you go to business social events. Holiday happenings provide rare opportunities for you to interact with and begin building relationships with senior leaders, clients, and lesser known colleagues. Now is the time to prepare yourself for these situations.

Here are some ways to prep:
 

• How are you going to introduce yourself and say what you do? Obviously, you are going to have a nice, firm handshake. You’re going to make eye contact. But you’ll also want to give some thought to how you will introduce yourself and deliver your “elevator pitch”. Prepare and practice a clear, concise (30-60 second), and compelling description of who you are, what you do, and what you bring to the table.
• Do you have a short story you can tell? Perhaps it’s an interesting story about something that happened in the last year, or maybe it’s a humorous anecdote about a project you are working on. Having a few brief, upbeat stories prepared can make all the difference in ensuring your brand shines in these situations.
• Preparation does not mean that you should or will come off as contrived, overly rehearsed, or fake. It does mean that by practicing beforehand with family members or your admin staff, you can show up to the party and communicate in a clear, authentic, and compelling way.

To recap: Be Moderate. Be Present. Be Curious. Be Prepared. Follow these simple steps and your personal brand will not only survive the holiday season, but shine and thrive!

If you are a woman leader who wants to level up your authentic executive presence, don’t miss the next LeadHERship Presence™ Workshop for Professional Women on January 30-31, 2019 in Phoenix, AZ.

More info here: www.leadhershippresence.com